Wednesday officially marked the First Day of Spring and I’m already starting to hear the birds singing outside my bedroom window in the morning. And even though most people might not think of wild birds as pets, and of course you should never try to capture one, you’d be surprised how much pleasure wild birds can bring to your life if you find ways to make them welcome around your home.

I live in a condominium complex in Los Angeles, so when I first moved here a couple of years ago from a much more rural area, I assumed I wouldn’t hear many birds singing here. But boy, was I ever wrong about that! As it turns out, there are lots of fantastic birds thriving right here in the city.

Then on my birthday last year, my daughter gave me a really cool hummingbird feeder for our patio and it’s provided me a steady stream of turbo speed hummingbirds, who are constantly feasting on it’s sweet nectar while providing us with a front row seat on the miracles of nature.

So I thought I’d mention a few great bird accessories that can help attract more birds into your life. And whether you have a yard or not, you can attract birds by doing something as simple as hanging a feeder outside your front door or kitchen window.

Over the years I’ve owned a lot of different hummingbird feeders, so by now I’m aware of some of the common problems that often plague them. One of the most common issues are feeders that leak. It’s also a good idea to get a feeder with a clear glass container, so it’s easy to clean, doesn’t get cloudy looking over time and the nectar is easily visible, without needing to use nasty food coloring to color the nectar. This Diamond Hummingbird Feeder works great because it’s clear glass and doesn’t seem to have problems with leaking (even in windy conditions), plus it has 8 “seats” so you’ll be able to have several little guys feeding at once. If you want to know more tips about making your own safe and healthy nectar and how to help your hummingbirds thrive, read more about them here.

When it comes to the subject of bird houses, my experience is somewhat limited and I once recall someone telling me that birds don’t even use bird houses here on the West Coast. So I referred this question to my Uncle, Jim Kenney, who’s an avid and very talented bird photographer right here in Los Angeles. Jim mentioned that the Western Bluebird is a variety here on the West Coast who does actually make use of birdhouses and he was kind enough to supply me with these two beautiful photographs that he’s taken of Western Bluebirds.

Images: James P. Kenney

So if you want to try your luck at attracting some birds into your own yard, this Woodlink Wooden Bluebird House has been specifically designed to attract bluebirds. It’s constructed of reforested, kiln dried, inland red cedar and you can open the front of it for easy cleaning too.